Folding table.



W. H. HEFFNER.

FOLDING 'TABLE.

APPLICATlON FILED MAR-5,1915- Patented Mar. 27,1917.

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WILLIAM HORACE I-IEFFNER, OF SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed March 5, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .VILLIAM Horace HEFFNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spartanburg, in the county of fipartanburg and State of South Carolina, have invented new and useful. Lnprovements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables, and especially to a folding card table.

The invention has for its object to produce a table which may be conveniently supported on the knees of several players at cards, said table being capable of being folded into small compass when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and convenient foldable table composed of a plurality of hingedly connected sections in combination with a stiffening rod adapted to pass through said sections when extended for the purpose of maintainingfthem in extended relation while the table is in use.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein. exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the table folded.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View showing the table extended.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 s in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4- is a sectional detail view taken on the line 4t in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2. 7

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The improved table is composed of a plurality of leaves which are hingedly connect ed together along their edges in. such fashion as to fold alternately in opposite directions. In the illustration four such leaves have Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2'7, 121W.

Serial No. 12,325.

been shown, the same being designated by 15, 16, 17, 18, said leaves being connected together by hinges 19 of well known construction. The leaves are pierced about mid.-

. way between their ends by transverse bores be seen, lies outermost at one side of the table; the leaf 15 which is outermost at the other side of the table is provided along its outer edge with a groove 25 in which the stiffening rod 21 may be accommodated when the table is folded, keepers 26 being provided for the purpose of retaining the stiffening rod within the groove 25.

The outermost leaves 15 and 18 are pro vided adjacent to their outer corners with spring clips consisting of flat arched springs 27 secured at one end by fastening means, such as screws 28, the other end being left free. These spring clips will be found extremely convenient for the purpose of retaining in position playing cards that are not in present use. It will be particularly observed that the spring clips 27 are mounted on the faces of the outermost leaves 15 and l8 which are outermost when the leaves are in folded relation and which are uppermost when the leaves are extended for use. It follows that the said spring clips will not interfere with the folding or collapsing of the leaves closelytogether, thus enabling the table to be folded in the smallest possible compass.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. The improved table may be conveniently supported on the knees or in the laps of several players, the leaves being held securely against collapsing by means of the stiffening rod 21. The table when not in use may be collapsed or folded into small compass, as seen in Fig. 1, and the stiffening rod may then be temporarily retained in the groove 25 bymeans of keepers 26.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A folding table comprising a plurality of hingedly connected leaves provided with transverse bores, the bores of the several leaves being in longitudinal alinement when the leaves are extended,'in combination with a stiffening rod adapted for insertion through said bores, said rod having at one end an eye constituting a handle which when the rod is in engagement withthe bores of the leaves lies clear'of the edge of one of the outermost leaves;

2. A folding table comprising a plurality of hingedly connected leaves having transverse bores which when the leaves are extended are in longitudinal alinement, one of the outermost leaves having a nut inset in the edge thereof in axial alinement with the bore, in combination with a stiifening rod adapted for insertion through said bores and having one end threaded for engagement with the nut and provided at the other Copies of this patent may be obtained tor end with an eye constituting a handle whereby it may be manipulated.

3. A folding table comprising a plurality of hin edly connected leaves and a stiffening rod adapted for cooperative engagement therewith, one of said leaves being provided near one edge thereof with a longitudinal groove and with keepers extending across said groove, said groove and keepers being adapted for retention of the stiffening rod when the table is folded or collapsed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM HORACE HEFFNER.

\Vitnesses O. B. ORRENDER, J. P. BILLINGS.

five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

